Epidemiology of malignant tumors in patients with pemphigus: an analysis of trends from 1955 to 2021

Abstract

Background: The incidence of malignant tumors has increased in patients with non-paraneoplastic pemphigus, although there has been no systematic analysis of global epidemiology. Objective: To explore the epidemiology of various types of non-paraneoplastic pemphigus associated with malignant tumors. Methods: Five databases from establishment through October 20, 2023, were searched. STATA SE 17 was used for the data analysis. Subgroup, meta-regression, and sensitivity analyses were used to evaluate the heterogeneity of pooled studies. Results: A total of 6679 participants were included in our meta-analysis from 16 studies. The aggregated prevalence of tumors in patients diagnosed with pemphigus was 8%. The prevalence was 7% in patients with pemphigus vulgaris, 10% in those with pemphigus foliaceus, and 12% in individuals diagnosed with other types of pemphigus. The prevalence was 8% in Asia, 11% in Europe, and 8% in North America. From a country-specific perspective, patients with pemphigus from Israel, Greece, and Germany exhibited a higher prevalence of tumors at 11%. Furthermore, when categorized by the duration of the study period, the highest prevalence was observed in studies spanning 10 to 20 years, at 11%. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the incidence and prevalence of malignant tumors in patients with non-paraneoplastic pemphigus, which may achieve early detection and intervention, and then reduce mortality rates.